Hard numbers

Queen’s students present their findings

The Queen’s University undergrads were back in the County at the Bloomfield Town Hall this week to present the findings from their study on affordable housing. The group was hired by Barry Davidson and the Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Network (PECAHN) to delve further into the topic and possibly find some insights as to the solutions. The group collected data via a survey that was presented to the community in which questions were asked about the current needs and possible roadblocks to affordable housing in the County. The survey also touched on issues stemming from the lack of affordable housing that included public transportation, the extreme climb in housing prices, and the inability for local businesses to hire the staff needed for a successful season. The results from the survey will provide PECAHN with the independent market research needed to inform and aid in the redevelopment process of the former Wellington District Community Centre on Niles Street.

The study focused on three key demographics: respondents who can afford market-rent housing, respondents who require affordable or subsidized housing, and local community business owners affected by the situation. Overall, the study received 330 responses with over 60 per cent of those respondents hailing from Picton (54 per cent) and Wellington (11 per cent). The income brackets showed a wide range in the report, with most respondents falling between $20,000 and $50,000 for annual income. The age range of respondents was also evenly spread out, the highest categories being those in their 60s, and the second highest being those in their 20s, highlighting the increasing number of young families moving to the County.

(L-R): Queen’s University students Tyson Kash, Song Yi, Ushpreet Mehta, Phoebe Ho and Rachel Klysen present their findings from an affordable housing survey on Monday afternoon at Bloomfield Town Hall.

In order to properly determine the demand for affordable housing, four items needed clarification: The first being the definition of affordable housing. For that, the study looked to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), which defines affordable housing as the price where a household spends less than 30 per cent of their household income on “acceptable shelter”. The second item was to extrapolate the number of bedrooms that each household requires. Third was to determine the cost of each respondent’s actual rent, and finally to determine who needs affordable housing, who is on the verge of needing it, and who is capable of affording market-rent housing.

By extrapolating the data collected in the survey, it was determined that 58 per cent of the respondents were either in need, or on the verge of requiring affordable housing. Of this group, 28.9 per cent were capable of affording housing at the set affordable rate. The overwhelming majority were looking for accommodations with two bedrooms and the most common family composition was a single parent with an only child. Primary industries of employment include retail trade, accommodations and food services. The age breakdown of the study showed that the bracket in most need of affordable housing was the 24 to 30 age category. It also indicated that the top two categories of current living situations from respondents were private rental housing and staying temporarily with family or friends.

The study also delved into the effect of the housing crisis on business owners and potential employees in the County. Of the 68 business owners that responded, 27 per cent said they were unable to hire potential employees due to a lack of affordable housing in the region.

Data was also collected on where those business owners reside, and it was determined that 57 per cent of business owners live outside the County and commute in for their work. The survey also sought to better understand the demographic breakdown of employees struggling to find work in the County due to a lack of affordable and available housing. Of the total survey respondents, 17.1 per cent say they have turned down an employer’s offer in the County. Of these respondents, 67 per cent were looking for fulltime work, while only 12 per cent sought seasonal work.

The issue of transportation was also highlighted in the results of the study, with over 86 per cent of the respondents stating that they own their own vehicle and depend on it as their primary mode of transportation. This indicates a strong need for parking in relation to affordable housing. Other requested amenities mentioned include recreational play areas and daycares within close vicinity to affordable housing, again highlighting the strong response from families in the survey. Other special requirements mentioned include requirements for service animals, affordable utilities, easy outdoor access and fenced-in yards for children.

The Queen’s group had a tight twelve-week window to capture as much information as possible for Davidson and PECAHN. Overall, they were pleased with how many people responded to the survey and stated that information and insights gathered was invaluable regarding its importance in relation to the current housing crisis. In the question and answer section, Councillor Bill Roberts asked the group what they would do in regard to public policy and how council could effect some change, and although the scope was very narrow in terms of what the survey was asking, Queen’s student Rachel Klysen answered on behalf on the respondents.

“The County in the past has sought to attract senior citizens or retirees from larger urban areas and that can be profitable from certain perspectives, but the response from the survey indicates that it would be a good idea to engage more families and encourage them to move to the County by giving them the infrastructure and opportunities needed to move here. The demographic of individuals you are choosing to invest in can definitely play a role in revitalizing the area,” says Klysen.